Cranston School Committee Member and PTO President Arrested for Embezzlement of School Funds

Cranston School Committee Member and PTO President Arrested for Embezzlement of School Funds

Tera Norberg, a member of the Cranston School Committee and President of the Stone Hill Elementary School Parent Teacher Group, has been arrested by the RI State Police.

Norberg was arrested by members of the State Police Financial Crimes Unit on charges including Unlawful Appropriation, Embezzlement, Filing a False Document, and Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty. 

It is just the latest alleged crime by a Cranston official — see list below.

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According to the State Police, the investigation was initiated in July of 2023 when the State Police were informed about a potential embezzlement case involving the Stone Hill Elementary School Parent Teacher Group's bank account.

The Cranston School Department Business Office had launched an internal inquiry into possible missing funds. During the course of the investigation, Ms. Norberg, who holds key positions in both the Cranston School Committee and the Parent Teacher Group, was asked to provide bank statements for the organization. Ms. Norberg initially reported discovering theft from the account and claimed to have identified the responsible individual. She even went so far as to provide a notarized document to the Business Office, stating that the culprit would fully reimburse the stolen funds. 

However, during the subsequent State Police investigation, Norberg admitted to the authorities that she had fabricated the identity of the guilty party and had, in fact, stolen the missing funds using a debit card associated with the parent-teacher group. Norberg was promptly charged with Unlawful Appropriation, Embezzlement, Giving False Documents to Public Official, and Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty in accordance with Rhode Island General Laws. 

Norberg was arraigned at State Police Headquarters by Justice of the Peace Steven Crawford. She was released on $10,000 personal recognizance and a pre-arraignment conference has been scheduled at the 6th District Court on October 11, 2023. 

State Police Financial Crimes Unit urges anyone with additional information about this incident to come forward and contact them at 401-764-5179.